The Farmville Town Council has decided to keep the residential parking decal fee at $5 per year per vehicle.

“When we discussed the $5 parking permit fee, we did not come to a consensus on whether that would be an annual or whether that would be a one-time fee as far as recommendation to council,” said Councilman Thomas Pairet, the chair of the town’s asset and resources committee.

The discussion took place during the council’s April 13 meeting.

Previously, decals were required to be purchased by April 15 of each year. Any resident living in a designated residential parking area is required to purchase a parking decal which must be displayed on the vehicle for a fee of $5, according to the town. Council members agreed to have the annual decals expire on June 30, with a start date of July 1.

Pairet said the committee discussed the pros and cons of each option, however, the vote was divided.

He said if a one-time fee was selected, there would still be costs incurred each year. However, an annual fee would allow for the recoupment of a certain amount of money.

Town Manager Gerald Spates said it costs the town about $1,600 to buy the tags and with the current $5 parking permit fee, about $800 is recouped.

Pairet said the committee had thought about asking individuals if they wanted to be included in residential parking system or not.

“If you had a section … and they wanted to opt out and got a majority of the residents to sign a letter, I think you could take them out,” Spates said.

Councilman Jamie Davis said residential parking was initially created due to citizen requests to council concerning parking issues.

Pairet requested a letter be sent out with the next water bill to explain the current residential parking situation.

“No streets have been put on by council that was not requested by the residents,” said Davis.

He said the parking was a service to those residents, justifying the parking permit fee.

Pairet said there is still confusion among residents about which areas are included in the residential parking footprint.

“There’s still a little bit of misunderstanding as far as where this area is in town and what the boundaries are,” he said.

Councilwoman Sally Thompson suggested giving each person within street blocks one parking pass for free, and if additional passes were desired they could be purchased.

“It all depends on where you live as to how many,” Thompson said of the number of passes. “I have two parking passes, plus two guest passes. Everybody doesn’t need or want as many.”

According to the town, Farmville’s residential parking includes Holly Street, Putney Street from Caitlin Street to South Virginia Street, South Virginia Street from Church Street to Allen Street (including Allen Street), East Second Street from Bridge Street to Glenn Street, Andrew Drive from Reed Street to Parkview, all of Venable, Griffin, Paulette, Randolph, St. George, Garden, Appomattox, Grove and Beech Streets, High Street from St. George to Second Avenue, Vine Pine and Race Streets within Longwood University’s Campus, all of Chambers Street and Watkins Street, all of Hill Street, First Avenue and Second Avenue, Wilson Street from First Avenue, Franklin Street, Edmunds Street from Griffin Street to Irving Street, Hurd Street from First Avenue to Second Avenue and Barrow Street from Griffin Boulevard to First Avenue.